Mira stepped out of the frozen cave, her breath still coming in short gasps. The mountain air felt warmer now, even though the cold still clung to her skin. The tiny cub nestled in her arms—soft, warm, and completely unbothered—purred contentedly, as if he hadn't just terrified her moments ago.
Fengrion.
A 10,000-year-old immortal beast. A guardian of legends. The so-called Nightmare of the Abyss.
And yet…
The little white furball was now gnawing at the sleeve of her robe, his tiny fangs barely making a dent.
Mira blinked down at him. What… just happened?
She had expected something terrifying—something grand, something majestic. Instead, she had a tiny creature chewing on her sleeve.
A cough snapped her out of her daze.
She turned to see the Grandmaster, who had been standing outside the cave, waiting for her return. His calm and wise demeanor was completely gone. Instead, his eyes were wide, his lips slightly parted in sheer disbelief. The man who was feared across the continent, the one who had guided generations of warriors, was now staring at her as if she had just uprooted the heavens.
"Grandmaster?" Mira called cautiously.
"…Impossible," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "T-That's Fengrion? That's the beast feared by ancient emperors and celestial warriors?"
Mira looked down at the cub, who yawned sleepily, his fluffy paws kneading against her arm like he was ready to take a nap.
"…Yeah?" she answered, unsure of what to say.
The Grandmaster stumbled back, rubbing his temples as if trying to process a life-altering revelation.
"This… this makes no sense," he mumbled. "Fengrion has swallowed entire armies in his full form. He—he nearly destroyed an empire once! His roar alone has made kings fall to their knees. And now he's… a cub?!"
Mira cradled Fengrion closer, feeling oddly protective. "I mean, he's still a beast, right? Does size really matter?"
The Grandmaster shot her a horrified look. "Size matters a lot."
Fengrion, completely ignoring the chaos he had caused, flopped onto his back in Mira's arms and purred, his fluffy tail flicking playfully.
Mira sighed. "Well… this is my life now."
The Journey to the Grandmaster's Residence
By the time they left Mount Hester, the Grandmaster had somewhat recovered—though Mira noticed he kept staring at Fengrion as if expecting him to suddenly explode into his real form at any moment.
Fengrion, meanwhile, had decided that Mira's head was his new throne. The tiny cub was perched comfortably in her hair, wrapping his tail around her forehead like a fluffy crown.
Every time she tried to move him, he would let out a tiny growl—which, despite sounding cute, carried enough pressure to shake the ground slightly.
"…I give up," Mira muttered, leaving him be.
The Grandmaster led her down from Mount Hester, taking a different path than before. As they walked, Mira noticed the air around them shift. The spiritual energy grew denser, the surroundings more vibrant. Unlike the untamed wilderness of Mount Hester, this place felt refined, as if shaped by centuries of cultivation.
Then, she saw it.
Nestled at the foot of the mountain, behind a cascading silver waterfall, was a hidden valley. A single wooden house, modest yet radiating power, sat in the center, surrounded by an expansive lake with waters so clear they reflected the sky perfectly.
The place breathed serenity.
"This," the Grandmaster said, stepping forward, "is my personal residence."
Mira stared, momentarily stunned. She had expected a grand palace, something befitting his status. Instead, it was a simple, peaceful retreat—but the energy here was unlike anything she had felt before.
Fengrion perked up, his fluffy ears twitching. Even he seemed drawn to the place.
"Come inside," the Grandmaster said. "Your real training begins here."
The First Lesson: Breaking the Seal
As soon as they stepped inside, Mira felt a strange pressure settle over her. It wasn't suffocating—more like an invisible weight pressing against her soul. The walls were lined with ancient scrolls, and at the very center of the room, there was a glowing sigil carved into the floor.
The Grandmaster gestured for her to sit. Mira obeyed, crossing her legs as she settled in.
Fengrion, still perched on her head, let out a satisfied yawn and curled up.
The Grandmaster sighed deeply. "Alright. Before we start anything else, we need to address the real issue—your seal."
Mira tensed. She had felt it during training with Ren. That invisible barrier that stopped her flames from fully manifesting.
"I don't know who placed it," the Grandmaster continued, his gaze sharp, "but I do know this: it's not a simple restriction. It's a lock. And whatever is behind it is something even I can't comprehend yet."
Mira's throat went dry. "So… what do we do?"
The Grandmaster placed his palm on the ground, and the glowing sigil beneath them flared to life. The energy pulsed through the room, sending waves of heat and cold rippling through her body.
"We begin by testing it," he said simply. "If you can break even a fraction of that seal, we'll know what we're dealing with."
Mira swallowed hard, then nodded.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. She reached inward, toward that dormant fire inside her, and the familiar heat stirred—only for her to feel that same resistance.
It's locked away.
But this time…
She pushed harder.
A sharp pulse of pain shot through her chest, and she gasped, nearly toppling forward. Her vision blurred, and for a split second, she wasn't in the Grandmaster's house anymore.
She was somewhere else.
A battlefield. Flames stretched across the horizon, devouring everything in sight. Amidst the chaos, a figure stood tall—a woman in golden armor, her blue flames spiraling around her like an inferno.
Mira felt her heartbeat slow.
She knew this woman.
Before she could react, the vision snapped away, and she was back in the Grandmaster's residence, panting heavily.
The Grandmaster's gaze was unreadable. "What did you see?"
Mira hesitated. "A battlefield. A woman in golden armor. And… blue flames."
The Grandmaster's expression darkened. He leaned back, exhaling. "Then it's worse than I thought."
Fengrion, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly opened his eyes.
And for the first time, his gaze wasn't playful—it was serious.
"…Master," he whispered, his voice low and ancient. "You are finally starting to remember."
Mira's breath caught in her throat.
What… did he just call me?